The first of four Rugby football matches between, Australia and the Rev. Sir. Mul-<*> lineux's team of English players took place on Saturday afternoon at the Sydney

i.iiCKei urouim, ano tne event creaira a remarkable siuouut of interest. The Aus tralian fifteen v.ere drawn exclusively from New South W.-.lcs and Queensland, the only colonies of the group which as yet play Kugby football to any considerable ex tent. Nine of the men came from New South Wales and six from Queensland. On the English side tie team was some what weakened by the absence of Thomp- son, Nicholson, and Sims, who were ori- ginally chosen to represent England, but were unable to play on account of illness and injuries. This left the team composed precisely as it was the inrcrious Saturday, when Xew South Wales was defeated by four points three. Although Sir. Mulli- neux and Nicholson took their places in the field, they were far from being in a fit condition. Both players complained on Friday of feeling indisposed, but the exi- gencies of the occasion required their pre- sence, and they did their duty manfully. The attendance, which was enormous, eclipsed that of the previous matches, and totalled somewhere in the vicinity of 28,000. After an exciting game, particu- larly so in the last half of the match, the Australians proved victors by 13 points to 3.